Studies on the Biology of Some Percid Fishes from Western Pennsylvania

Abstract
The age, rate of growth and longevity of Poecilichthys variatus, P. z. zonalis and Etheostoma b. blennoides from French Creek, Allegheny River system,are descr. from scale analysis. Their habitats, abundance, sexual dimorphism and sex ratios are also discussed and compared. Reproduction is limited chiefly to May and June in Pa. Individuals of all 3 spp. are mature and spawn when 2 years old. Their typical life span is 4 years, the rate of growth being greatly retarded during the last 2 years of life. The males grow more rapidly than their respective females. E. blennoides grew most rapidly and attained the greatest length.